Portable sign.



J. STAREN. PORTABLE SIGN. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1909.

Patented May 31, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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J. STAREN. vPORTABLE- SIGN. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1909.

Patented May 31, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.y

l, STATES- J'OSEPH STYAB'EN, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE SIGN.

" Specification of 2 Application led June 5,

To all 'whom 'ii may concern:

'Be it known t-hat I, JOSEPH STAREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a portable sign and has for its object to provide a sign which is .and characters may be made of any suitable material and size, and that various slight changes in the form, proportions and minor details of construction may` be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or principle of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved sign. Fig. 2 is a detail in front elevation of a portion of the sign frame, the character locking bars being removed. Fig. 3 is a detail showing how the corners of the frame members are beveled Fig. 4 is a detail in rear elevation of the sign frame with a portion thereof broken away. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line .Or-' of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail showing the frame provided with a modified form of character. F ig. 7 is a detail showing the frame pro- .p vided with a still further modified form of character. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the preferred form or style of character. Fig. 9 isa perspective view of the modified form of character shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is perspective view ofthe modified form of character shown in Fio. 7. Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a modification of my sign frame. Fig. 12 is a. sectional view thereof Letters raient. Patented May 31, 1910. 19de. serial ivo. 500,436.

In carrying out the aim of my invention, I employ a suitable sign frame A, which consists of the two side pieces or members 1 and the end pieces or members 2. The said side members 1 have their ends beveled as at beveled as at 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The object of bevelin the ends is to enable them to be easily, readily and accurately assembled. These members 1 and 2 are held in a rigid position so as to forln a strong sign frame by means of the angle corner Vpieces 5 which are secured to the back of the members 1 and 2 as well asto the front. The front corner pieces may be of some fancy design so as to add to the appearance of the sign. These corner pieces are secured to vmeans 6. If the frame A, is rather long a center piece 7 is employed which is secured in position by means of the back plates 8. 'These plates 8 are secured to the members 1 and 7 by means of the fastening means 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 9.. The end members 2 and the central memberv 7, it will be alined openings 10, the object of which will be pointed out hereinafter.

l, Adapted to be carried by the frame A, are a plurality of channel members 11', having their sides bent outwardly as at 1Q to form guides. These channel members or character supporting members are secured at each end to the end frame piece-s 2 by means of suitable fastening devices 13 Vwhich are adapted to enter the openings 10. It will be readily seen that these character supporting members 'are adjustable as they can beeasily and readily moved by simply removing the fastening means 13. This enables the frame to carry various sizes'of Acharacters which is necessary in a sign of this character. Adapted to be carried by each of the character supporting members in the channel portion thereof is a half round bar 14, which bars are adapted to hold and lock the preferred style or form of character 15' in position, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The bars 14 are drawn up tight against the curved lips 16 of the characters 15 by means of the fastening devices or the openings 18 of the character supporting members 11, and enter openings in the bars 14'as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. To

taken on line 2-2 on Fig. 11.

'remove the" letters 15 after they have once 3 and the members 2 also have their endsthe members 1 and 2 by suitable fastening' observed are provided with a plurality of ica screws 17 which are adapted to pass through l been set up for changing the reading matter of the sign, the screws 17 are removed which releases the bars '14 so that the characters 15 -may be easily removed. After new charthe lips 19 thereof, it will be observed,

form pockets 20 for theoutwardly eX- tending portions or flanges 12 to enter, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. llhen this style or character is employed the bars 14 are held in position,as clearly shown in Fig. 6. rlhese characters 1S it will be observed are adapted to slide on the flanges 12 instead of being clamped to the supporting members asi shown in Figs. `l and 5.

The style of letter designated 21, and shown in l? ig. 10 is also a sliding letter or character but instead of sliding on the slide ing or the' outer flanges of any two supporting members, they slide on the inner anges 12 as clearly shown in Fig. 7. IThese characters 21 are provided at their ends with the grooves 22, which are adapted to receive the flanges 12.

Referring to the ymodification shown yin Figs. 11 and 12, it will be observed that l provide a sign frame of a single sheet of material instead of several parts, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The mod1cation consists of a single sheet of material 23, which is provided with a plurality of character supporting means consisting of a channeled portion 24, stamped Jfrom the frame 23, which channel portion has its side edges bent outwardly as at 26 to form flanges to support letters, numerals and other characters, the

same as llanges 12 of the character supporting members 11. In order to strengthen this plate or frame 23 to prevent it from bendin or getting out of shape, which it is a t to o when several character supporting e ements are stamped therefrom, this plate 23 may be suitably fastened to the frame A, which isclearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

eaasee From the foregoing description it will bev .readily understood that l provide a sign wherein the characters are changeable and interchangeable and the character supporting members adjustable upon the sign trame so as to enable various sizes of characters to be employed.

rlhe uses for a sign of this character it will be readily seen are numerous and the advantage of the same is a great feature because any party owning a frame and set of characters can make his own sign and change the reading thereof as often as desired.

'What l claim is:

Y 1. A sign comprising a portable trame, adjustable character supporting members carried by said frame, characters having dished support-ing lips adapted 'to be carried by said supporting members, a half-round bar carried by each of said supporting inembers adapted to engage the dished lips of said characters, and means for removably retaining said bars in place.

2.' A sign comprising a portable frame, a plurality of Achannel members removably secured to said frame in suitable spaced relation, sign characters having dished supporting lips adapted to be supported by means of said channel members, locking bars adapted to engage the dished lips of said Y sign characters, and means for securely locking said bars in position.

3. A sign comprising a rectangular portable frame, consisting of a top and bottom member and a pair of end members having a pluralit, of alined openings therein, a plurality o adjustable channel supporting members having connection with said end members, sign characters adapted to be carried by said channel supporting members, and removable means adapted `to engage said sign characters for removably retaining said characters in place.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to the specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses..

JOSEPH STAREN. -Witnessesz ,FREDIL J.y LARsorr,

DAvnvF. Donar. 

